A male Carolina wren will scout 10 to 14 would-be nesting sites, sometimes laying out a few sticks and leaves like a frontier pioneer staking a potential homestead on the prairie.

Then he takes his mate on a grand tour wherein she rejects all but one based on factors like safety, commute time and elementary school proximity. (This dynamic may sound familiar to humans, but for the absence of a real estate agent.)

Then they both set to work, he building a sturdy, rugged exterior and she finishing the interior with soft, fluffy, disposable linings from Nests to Go.

I don’t know who coined that phrase, but I like the irony of it on many levels.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was asked before the start of the NFL season if he should be ranked among his “elite” contemporaries.

They would include Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts – Eli’s brother who ultimately wouldn’t play a down in 2011.

And, ordinarily, that pride in an excellent season would translate into a holiday bowling trip; however, traveling toMiamithis year is not in the cards. In fact, traveling toMiamimay never be in the cards.